”“Were there any others in consideration besides Miss Larkin?”“Five.”“Would you be willing to sell that list to us?”“No. They will ann...unce themselves sooner or later. All are exceptional children.”“Why not all six if they are so exceptional.”“I chose the best. There are only so many hours in the day and Catherine keeps me occupied.” A faint reserved smile graced the little minx’s face at my compliment. “Besides that, one student alone will cost me more in resources than I would guess your. Or at least I liked to think so, because that secured my safety and gave me hope that I would eventually be handed back to my father to forget the whole ordeal and enjoy my life once again. I let my thoughts waver about in my hopes, my dreams. I dazed in and out of sleep and was finally awoke by a large and gruff looking man who grabbed my arms and lifted me to my feet so that he could undo my bindings more easily. My questioning did no good; he answered only one of my questions, "where are you. "They're going to be meeting up with two moretrucks at the Brightfeather's Truck Stop in Colorado. But I think thereis going to be at least ten trucks in the convoy, and who knows howmany passengers." Brightfeather's?" Momma Bev looked excited, and then I remembered Hopetelling me about getting to be a waitress in the Brightfeather ExpressKitchen also known as Eagle, on their way to Iridani."Momma?" Priscilla and I both asked at the same time.Miss Owens handed Momma a business card.We were. She had grown up in Oklahoma, and twice the family home was severely damaged by tornadoes, and her father had lost his auto repair shop due to yet another tornado. Just the mere mention of the word ‘tornado’ would have her visibly shaking with fear unmistakable in her eyes. Tornadoes were thus the perfect way to show her why my hands were always covered when I was around other people. Compared to the rest of my summer-tanned body, my hands were incredibly pale in comparison. I suppose one.